My Genealogy Hound

Bob Crane, Grave and Tombstone, Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, photo

The tombstone and grave site of the actor, Bob Crane. Crane was born as Robert Edward Crane on July 13, 1928 in Waterbury, Connecticut. He is most well known for his role as Col. Hogan, the central character in the television comedy, Hogan's Heroes.

During the 1950's, Crane was a highly successful and popular radio show host, first in New York and Connecticut and finally in Los Angeles, California. After his appearance in a 1962 episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show, Crane accepted an ongoing role as Dr. David Kelsey on The Donna Reed Show where he appeared in 62 episodes during 1963-64. This was followed by his starring role in 168 episodes of Hogan's Heroes which were originally broadcast between 1965 and 1971. In 1970, Crane married Sigrid Valdis (born as Patricia Annette Olson) who played the character of Hilda, the secretary of Col. Klink in Hogan's Heroes.

After the Hogan's Heroes series ended, Crane made a number of film and TV appearances. His final appearance was in a 1978 episode of The Love Boat. Bob Crane died in his apartment on June 29, 1978 in Scottsdale, Arizona; he was 49 years old. His is death is officially classified as an unresolved murder. His wife, Sigrid Valdis, died on October 14, 2007 of lung cancer and is buried next to him. The remains of both are buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.